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A Guy Harford Mystery #1
Stealing the Crown
Britain is at war—but the greatest threat to the Crown might be within the Palace walls.
London, 1941: Major Edgar Brampton is found shot dead in his office in Buckingham Palace. All signs point towards a self-inflicted tragedy, but when Palace authorities hurry his body away and order staff to stay silent, fellow courtier Guy Harford’s suspicions are raised.
While the outside world faces the onslaught of war, within the Palace walls a curious mystery unfolds. Rumours swirl about Brampton’s relationship with the Queen, and there’s talk of other plots involving those closest to the King.
To get to the bottom of what really happened, Guy joins forces with some unlikely allies—Rodie Carr, a beautiful East End burglar, and Rupert Hardacre, a postman with a past—but time may be running out…for him, for the King, and for Britain. Someone has their eye on the crown, and they’ll do anything to get it.
Can Guy solve the case before more blood is spilled on the royal carpets? Or will he be the next victim?
London, 1941: Major Edgar Brampton is found shot dead in his office in Buckingham Palace. All signs point towards a self-inflicted tragedy, but when Palace authorities hurry his body away and order staff to stay silent, fellow courtier Guy Harford’s suspicions are raised.
While the outside world faces the onslaught of war, within the Palace walls a curious mystery unfolds. Rumours swirl about Brampton’s relationship with the Queen, and there’s talk of other plots involving those closest to the King.
To get to the bottom of what really happened, Guy joins forces with some unlikely allies—Rodie Carr, a beautiful East End burglar, and Rupert Hardacre, a postman with a past—but time may be running out…for him, for the King, and for Britain. Someone has their eye on the crown, and they’ll do anything to get it.
Can Guy solve the case before more blood is spilled on the royal carpets? Or will he be the next victim?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2020
584 people are currently reading
2342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 2, 2024
Good bones for a series, but this first book was all over the place trying to settle into the interesting setting and numerous characters-far too many, and it was hard to know who mattered. The tone was very dishy and gossipy and entertaining, but confusing-again, not sure who or what mattered.
I’ll be interested to read the second book (if it’s available from an existing subscription, I wouldn’t pay for it), to see how our hero settles into detection, it seemed like his flatmate and friends were much more savvy about it. I read the first half then jumped to the last chapter, don’t think I missed much; seemed as if the writer had lots of gossipy WWII royal tidbits he wanted to work in, just threw it at the wall to see what stuck.
I’ll be interested to read the second book (if it’s available from an existing subscription, I wouldn’t pay for it), to see how our hero settles into detection, it seemed like his flatmate and friends were much more savvy about it. I read the first half then jumped to the last chapter, don’t think I missed much; seemed as if the writer had lots of gossipy WWII royal tidbits he wanted to work in, just threw it at the wall to see what stuck.
July 20, 2020
This was tedious. I'm so glad I didn't pay for it having downloaded it as an Amazon First Read. A lot of slightly confusing "characters", having overlong conversations,a convoluted plot which at times felt as if it had been relegated to a sub-plot, and by the time it ended, I didn't really care.
October 2, 2024
Part of 2024 Challenge for Reading the Detectives Group
This wasn’t bad, although, I have to say with everything that was going on, I did have to start again as I had completely lost the plot, figuratively and literally.
I believe I have bought a couple of the sequels so will get to them at some point, now that after two months, I am back in the land of the living sort of.
This wasn’t bad, although, I have to say with everything that was going on, I did have to start again as I had completely lost the plot, figuratively and literally.
I believe I have bought a couple of the sequels so will get to them at some point, now that after two months, I am back in the land of the living sort of.
August 17, 2020
Set in Buckingham Palace during WWII, we get a glimpse at what it is like being a royal courtier and a peek at who really runs things at the palace.
What I liked:
I liked this inside glimpse at what it is like to be a courtier and work at the palace.
I had fun guessing whether the powers that be gave Guy the job of solving the murder because they thought he would bungle it or if they thought he would solve it!
I really liked the way the mystery unfolded, I was kept guessing until the very end.
I think the author has more room to explore the characters of Guy and Rhodie in future books.
What could have been better
Even with the Cast of Characters in the front of the book, there are a lot of names (and nicknames) that are hard to keep straight.
Overall this was an enjoyable mystery with an interesting main character with much more room to grow into a series. I recommend this book to historical mystery fans as well as people who enjoy books about the royal family. 4/5
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
What I liked:
I liked this inside glimpse at what it is like to be a courtier and work at the palace.
I had fun guessing whether the powers that be gave Guy the job of solving the murder because they thought he would bungle it or if they thought he would solve it!
I really liked the way the mystery unfolded, I was kept guessing until the very end.
I think the author has more room to explore the characters of Guy and Rhodie in future books.
What could have been better
Even with the Cast of Characters in the front of the book, there are a lot of names (and nicknames) that are hard to keep straight.
Overall this was an enjoyable mystery with an interesting main character with much more room to grow into a series. I recommend this book to historical mystery fans as well as people who enjoy books about the royal family. 4/5
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
July 13, 2020
Stealing the Crown is an easy read indeed, with a decent plot steeped in wartime detail. Unfortunately it is somewhat short-serviced by its affable but inadequate protagonist, Guy Harford, and the very setting in which it takes place, Buckingham Palace. You see, a murder in the Palace is - of course - immediately hushed up, leaving no crime scene, no body, no CLUES for the eager reader to pore over, simply a procession of loosely interconnected characters who give little away within the text. Harford is very much in the Doctor Watson mold of sleuths - ineffectual, often drawing entirely erroneous and unsupported conclusions, and failing to consider the consequences of his fumbling deductions (more than once do we see the phrase "Guy hadn't thought of that"). Admittedly, this is somewhat integral to the plot, but Doctor Watson without Sherlock Holmes leaves us with a dull and dim-witted protagonist indeed. He is aided by a couple of much sharper companions, but they and the other supporting characters are never fleshed out beyond mere ciphers to drive the plot forward, and push our nominal hero towards the final conclusion - which, when it comes, is something of a deus ex machina. It would have been very welcome to see Harford and Rupert deepen their relationship beyond a couple of trips to the pub, or the pleasingly independent Rodie be given something more to do than occasional breaking and entering, but alas, Guy's "friends" are apparently only called upon when it is time for the next piece of the puzzle to be dropped in his lap. There are merits to the novel: some of the period detail is lovely (albeit some of it feels rather shoe-horned in); the strength of the book lies in its evocation of Blitz life both on the streets and in the royal residence, within the wider context of a yet-to-become world war. It is the characters that are lacking. Truth be told, I rather like Guy Harford - he's too amiable to dislike - but I have no desire to witness him bumble his way through any further investigations. Perhaps TP Fielden, a.k.a. Christopher Wilson, should stick to non-fiction writing in future
August 2, 2020
1941, a Buckingham Palace courtier is found dead, apparently having committed suicide. The death is hushed up, but was the man murdered? And could this be part of a wider plot to remove King George VI and replace him with someone more sympathetic to the Nazis? All ingredients which promise a tense, pacey thriller.
Unfortunately the book fails to deliver on that promise. The narrative plods along slowly and the lead character – artist, reluctant courtier and failed spy Guy Harford – stumbles haplessly through events. There are also a lot of characters, some of who have hardly any distinguishing characteristics, so it can be hard to keep track of who’s who.
The book does paint a convincing portrait of life in wartime London but that’s not enough to rescue it
Unfortunately the book fails to deliver on that promise. The narrative plods along slowly and the lead character – artist, reluctant courtier and failed spy Guy Harford – stumbles haplessly through events. There are also a lot of characters, some of who have hardly any distinguishing characteristics, so it can be hard to keep track of who’s who.
The book does paint a convincing portrait of life in wartime London but that’s not enough to rescue it
January 15, 2024
Jolly mystery set in WWII London. Guy Harford is working as an administrator at Buckingham Palace when a colleague is found shot dead in the office. Guy is ordered to investigate but finds the closed world of the Palace hard to penetrate, and gossip and rumours obscure things further. Helped by a charming female burglar, Rodie Carr, and his mysterious flatmate Rupert, Guy carries on with the dangerous mission.
This was good fun, although much stronger on the Royal Family gossip (the author is a royal biographer and journalist) than it is on the mystery plot. There were some neat historical titbits of information, and the snobbery and opportunism of the Palace staff is well described. Guy is a bit of a hapless character and Rupert rather shadowy, but I would expect them to develop more as the series progresses.
It was a pleasant and undemanding read - I think I prefer the author’s Miss Dimont series but I would quite happily read another from this series.
This was good fun, although much stronger on the Royal Family gossip (the author is a royal biographer and journalist) than it is on the mystery plot. There were some neat historical titbits of information, and the snobbery and opportunism of the Palace staff is well described. Guy is a bit of a hapless character and Rupert rather shadowy, but I would expect them to develop more as the series progresses.
It was a pleasant and undemanding read - I think I prefer the author’s Miss Dimont series but I would quite happily read another from this series.
September 1, 2020
2020 bk 287. This has been on my want to read list for awhile. I finally broke down and purchased it as a b-day present to myself. On the whole it is a well done suspense/mystery. Filled with gossip about the royal family and their extended friends and hangers on during the time of WWII, it is also the story of one of the 'lesser' beings at the palace. Probably the most enchanting and frustrating of his tasks is finding a home for King George III's parrot (based on a true parrot). London is not where Guy wants to be, but he makes the best of it in a confusing political atmosphere. The personalities involved seemingly all want to control the throne/crown (to which the title refers) and the unwrapping of what has really been going on tells a good deal about how the mind of the author works.
October 14, 2020
It's WWII, a king has abdicated, his brother now on the throne, with his princess daughter as the next heir. When Major Edward Brampton's body is found at Buckingham Palace, suspicions swirl and rumors mount. Was the major's death a tragic suicide? Or a murder to hide explosive, royal secrets?
When palace authorities have the body removed to avoid scandal, former artist and now courtier, Guy Harford, has the responsibility of notifying the major's wife and keeping the press and other nosy parkers at bay. The clues surrounding the major's death aren't adding up as Guy forages into the major's past dealings. Spies, a mysterious network and a rumored relationship with a queen leave a tangled web of clues to get to the truth. Will Guy's sleuthing lead to a deadly end?
Author Fielden weaves a mysterious, page-turning tale infused with fact and fiction. We're whisked back in time to the streets of war torn London in this cozy, historical novel of intrigue. A must read for royal, mystery enthusiasts--highly recommended!
When palace authorities have the body removed to avoid scandal, former artist and now courtier, Guy Harford, has the responsibility of notifying the major's wife and keeping the press and other nosy parkers at bay. The clues surrounding the major's death aren't adding up as Guy forages into the major's past dealings. Spies, a mysterious network and a rumored relationship with a queen leave a tangled web of clues to get to the truth. Will Guy's sleuthing lead to a deadly end?
Author Fielden weaves a mysterious, page-turning tale infused with fact and fiction. We're whisked back in time to the streets of war torn London in this cozy, historical novel of intrigue. A must read for royal, mystery enthusiasts--highly recommended!
January 24, 2021
Not the murder mystery for me. I thought it sounded exciting and interesting but honestly I got lost most of the time. All the characters were referred to by their names and their nicknames and it took me ages to find out who they were talking about.
The actual story also dragged for me a lot. But I was determined to make it through to the end to find out what happened. Wasn’t really impressed by the whole reveal I think I really was just hoping to get to the end. And I did so there’s that.
Definitely did want to like it though. Sad that it wasn’t for me.
The actual story also dragged for me a lot. But I was determined to make it through to the end to find out what happened. Wasn’t really impressed by the whole reveal I think I really was just hoping to get to the end. And I did so there’s that.
Definitely did want to like it though. Sad that it wasn’t for me.
September 20, 2020
It was a fun read. It has everything, mystery & intrigue. Will keep you hooked. This book helps widen your perspective about the world war 2 from a UK view. A lead character is found dead, and another protagonist faces a situation where he has to determine whether it was a murder or a suicide. Tricky, but very very interesting, I was lucky to receive the arc from NetGalley and the Author. You are in for a treat. Enjoy!
June 8, 2022
Really good story, based around historical fact, set in London in WW2 and centred around Buckingham Palace staff, who have to solve a mystery whodunnit! Wasn’t sure if it was going to be any good as just chose it for my Kindle from either Amazon sale or free book - but I absolutely loved it! Well written so that I could visualise everything in my head, including the sights and sounds in the city in 1940, but without heavy descriptive sections which I loathe. Have downloaded the next book in the series.
May 17, 2022
what a great start to a series!
September 2, 2020
Any time a book as a Cast of Characters at the beginning, it's a warning to me. The setting and plot in this book were interesting enough. However, there were too many characters to keep track of, and many had nicknames, in that English upper class way, and I could not keep track. I kept losing interest and then coming back later, which only increased my confusion. I think this was a great premise and well-researched but needed a bit more editing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
December 4, 2020
When a book has a cast of characters at the front, it’s easy to assume that it’s going to be a complicated story, and there were indeed a number of characters to keep track of. The use of nicknames is very British so I wasn’t too worried about that, and I am familiar with the way that aristocracy often refer to each other by title not name (eg “Gloucester” or “Harry Gloucester” is the Duke of Gloucester, who may also be known as Prince Henry …) and also the use of Mrs so Betsey is correctly referred to as Betsey Cody and Mrs Granville Cody – I appreciate that some readers may struggle slightly more with this as it’s not quite natural to the modern ear …
This book is fiction based on fact, one of my favourite types of novel! I enjoyed the wartime setting, and the idea of setting it inside Buckingham Palace during WW2 is unusual. The title will undoubtedly lead some readers to think that this will be about stealing the Crown Jewels, when it’s about “the crown” – the King/Queen, the monarchy. There were moments of real historical accuracy and this helped to ground the book in reality. I had never really thought about what would have happened if King George VI had died before Elizabeth had turned 18 & could inherit the throne and like a lot of “based on fact” novels do, this one sent me off on a few little knowledge quests to fill in some of the gaps in my own understanding!
Guy Harford doesn’t want the job that he’s been given, but knows that he cannot refuse it. When his office-mate is found dead, apparently having committed suicide, Guy is asked to look into the circumstances. It was interesting to ponder if Guy had been given the task of solving the murder because he was expected to accept the “obvious” solution or because they thought he would actually solve it, but despite a frustrating attempt to cover up the truth (after all it wouldn’t be good publicity to let the public know that somebody had died on the premises!) Guy doesn’t give up and delves into Major Brampton’s life. He is not surprised to discover a number of affairs – after all it was widely accepted that many men had a wife & a mistress, particularly in higher social circles where marriages were generally business transactions between families to secure property or power – however he is surprised to uncover evidence of spying, Nazi sympathisers and a potential plot to remove King George VI from the throne in order to install a Regent with Nazi sympathies.
I was left slightly confused at the end when one of the characters just “disappears” but overall this was an enjoyable light mystery with plenty of potential for future books in the series.
This book is fiction based on fact, one of my favourite types of novel! I enjoyed the wartime setting, and the idea of setting it inside Buckingham Palace during WW2 is unusual. The title will undoubtedly lead some readers to think that this will be about stealing the Crown Jewels, when it’s about “the crown” – the King/Queen, the monarchy. There were moments of real historical accuracy and this helped to ground the book in reality. I had never really thought about what would have happened if King George VI had died before Elizabeth had turned 18 & could inherit the throne and like a lot of “based on fact” novels do, this one sent me off on a few little knowledge quests to fill in some of the gaps in my own understanding!
Guy Harford doesn’t want the job that he’s been given, but knows that he cannot refuse it. When his office-mate is found dead, apparently having committed suicide, Guy is asked to look into the circumstances. It was interesting to ponder if Guy had been given the task of solving the murder because he was expected to accept the “obvious” solution or because they thought he would actually solve it, but despite a frustrating attempt to cover up the truth (after all it wouldn’t be good publicity to let the public know that somebody had died on the premises!) Guy doesn’t give up and delves into Major Brampton’s life. He is not surprised to discover a number of affairs – after all it was widely accepted that many men had a wife & a mistress, particularly in higher social circles where marriages were generally business transactions between families to secure property or power – however he is surprised to uncover evidence of spying, Nazi sympathisers and a potential plot to remove King George VI from the throne in order to install a Regent with Nazi sympathies.
I was left slightly confused at the end when one of the characters just “disappears” but overall this was an enjoyable light mystery with plenty of potential for future books in the series.
August 1, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read a copy of this book!
I should start off by saying that I am American and most of my knowledge of Britain (besides long-ago history classes) has been acquired through popular culture and fiction. So the name "Wallis Simpson" in the genealogical chart of the WWII-era monarchy alerted me to the fact that we were talking about the time of Colin Firth in the King's Speech (I'm terrible with titles, the name King George VI wouldn't have meant anything to me). And when they talked about the Regent, I knew what that was because of Regency romances. Really, I'm not trying to pretend I know anything.
But I had a blast reading this book! It is my favorite kind of mystery, with lots of twists and turns and intrigue, and the "detective" in the middle of it is clearly way in over his head but he is kind of an errand boy for the Palace and people tell him to take care of it so he's doing his best. And, yes, the chart at the opening of the book lets you know that this is set in a real place and time, with a mix of historical figures and fictional characters.
Since it's a mystery, I don't want to give too much away, but I will say: as strikingly eye-catching as that cover is (and yes, it was a factor in my stopping to take a look at this book!) it is slightly misleading as the hunt for the crown is slightly more metaphorical than it suggests. I know I had my hopes up for a royal jewel heist, but what did actually happen kept me enthralled regardless. There are so many things going on with the royal palace and the wartime politics and the bombings of London and the colorful cast of characters and the wry humor (well, humour!).
Finally, make sure to take a look at the author's note at the end as well as the author bio! Apparently he is a royal biographer and was a journalist as well, which explains why the behind-the-scenes look at palace life was so deliciously detailed and immersive.
This book absolutely sucked me in with its immersive sense of place, reluctantly beleaguered protagonist, and the intriguing mystery. I'm only disappointed that more books in the series aren't out yet!
I should start off by saying that I am American and most of my knowledge of Britain (besides long-ago history classes) has been acquired through popular culture and fiction. So the name "Wallis Simpson" in the genealogical chart of the WWII-era monarchy alerted me to the fact that we were talking about the time of Colin Firth in the King's Speech (I'm terrible with titles, the name King George VI wouldn't have meant anything to me). And when they talked about the Regent, I knew what that was because of Regency romances. Really, I'm not trying to pretend I know anything.
But I had a blast reading this book! It is my favorite kind of mystery, with lots of twists and turns and intrigue, and the "detective" in the middle of it is clearly way in over his head but he is kind of an errand boy for the Palace and people tell him to take care of it so he's doing his best. And, yes, the chart at the opening of the book lets you know that this is set in a real place and time, with a mix of historical figures and fictional characters.
Since it's a mystery, I don't want to give too much away, but I will say: as strikingly eye-catching as that cover is (and yes, it was a factor in my stopping to take a look at this book!) it is slightly misleading as the hunt for the crown is slightly more metaphorical than it suggests. I know I had my hopes up for a royal jewel heist, but what did actually happen kept me enthralled regardless. There are so many things going on with the royal palace and the wartime politics and the bombings of London and the colorful cast of characters and the wry humor (well, humour!).
Finally, make sure to take a look at the author's note at the end as well as the author bio! Apparently he is a royal biographer and was a journalist as well, which explains why the behind-the-scenes look at palace life was so deliciously detailed and immersive.
This book absolutely sucked me in with its immersive sense of place, reluctantly beleaguered protagonist, and the intriguing mystery. I'm only disappointed that more books in the series aren't out yet!
August 19, 2020
I’m quite fond of historical mysteries from pretty much any period, so I was happy to receive an ARC of Stealing the Crown, by TP Fielden.
Stealing the Crown is set during the early days of World War II, and does a nice job of putting some speculative details into and around the factual lives of the British royal family during that time. The main characters – the victim and the sleuths – are fictional, but, as the author’s note at the end mentions, many of the conspiratorial groups and events that form a background for the book are real. I always like historical mysteries when they have a good blend of fact and fiction, and Stealing the Crown delivers on that.
I quite enjoyed the book, and ending up reading it in only a couple of sittings. My only complaint, which is sort of minor, is that I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters at first, even with the list of characters and the royal family tree provided up front. But after a while, as the story developed, things fell into place, and it became easy to keep track of who was who.
All-in-all, I quite liked this book, and will keep an eye out for some of the titles in Fielden’s other series, the Miss Dimont series. I’m also happy that the webpage for the Stealing the Crown indicates that it’s the first in a series, since I’d like to see more of both Rodie Carr (the real heroine of the book in my opinion) and Guy Harford (the titular hero).
Please note that I try to fight “star-flation” a little bit, so I reserve 5 stars for a very few absolute favorite books that I am going to read and then re-read again. So for me, 4 stars is a solid ranking, and means I do recommend the book. And my thanks again to Thomas and Mercer/Net Galley for the review copy.
Stealing the Crown is set during the early days of World War II, and does a nice job of putting some speculative details into and around the factual lives of the British royal family during that time. The main characters – the victim and the sleuths – are fictional, but, as the author’s note at the end mentions, many of the conspiratorial groups and events that form a background for the book are real. I always like historical mysteries when they have a good blend of fact and fiction, and Stealing the Crown delivers on that.
I quite enjoyed the book, and ending up reading it in only a couple of sittings. My only complaint, which is sort of minor, is that I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters at first, even with the list of characters and the royal family tree provided up front. But after a while, as the story developed, things fell into place, and it became easy to keep track of who was who.
All-in-all, I quite liked this book, and will keep an eye out for some of the titles in Fielden’s other series, the Miss Dimont series. I’m also happy that the webpage for the Stealing the Crown indicates that it’s the first in a series, since I’d like to see more of both Rodie Carr (the real heroine of the book in my opinion) and Guy Harford (the titular hero).
Please note that I try to fight “star-flation” a little bit, so I reserve 5 stars for a very few absolute favorite books that I am going to read and then re-read again. So for me, 4 stars is a solid ranking, and means I do recommend the book. And my thanks again to Thomas and Mercer/Net Galley for the review copy.
August 24, 2020
Stealing the Crown
.
The world is at war and dead bodies are not only found on the battlefield.
After an allegedly disastrous situation in Tangiers, Guy Harford had no choice but to take up a position as a courtier in Buckingham Palace. From running errands for the Royal Family, Harford has to take on a different role when a fellow courtier is found dead in Buckingham Palace. Refusing to believe that it was suicide, Harford decides to investigate with the help of two unlikely people, his “postman” housemate and a professional cat burglar. As things start to unravel, Harford’s list of suspects expands to include not only those close to the victim and members of the Royal family but also a shadowy group of people keen on stealing the Crown and taking over the throne. Will he manage to uncover the murderer or will the murderer get to him first?
.
When I first started this book, I could not help but be reminded of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Wimsey. However, the further in I got, I started to feel that perhaps Guy Harford is a more diluted version of the aristocratic investigator, being somewhat powerless and with more enemies than friends in high places. But what he lacks in charisma and power, he makes up with his earnest and dogged determination to get to the truth. That aside, I actually enjoyed reading this book and found it to be an easy and entertaining read. It did get me wondering and frequently guessing who the murderer was and because of that I found myself constantly reaching for the book whenever I had some free time.
.
So if you’re looking for a fast and not too heavy read, grab this one. You’ll also get a glimpse into the lives of high society in Britain, some of whom seemed to be little affected by the war then.
.
The world is at war and dead bodies are not only found on the battlefield.
After an allegedly disastrous situation in Tangiers, Guy Harford had no choice but to take up a position as a courtier in Buckingham Palace. From running errands for the Royal Family, Harford has to take on a different role when a fellow courtier is found dead in Buckingham Palace. Refusing to believe that it was suicide, Harford decides to investigate with the help of two unlikely people, his “postman” housemate and a professional cat burglar. As things start to unravel, Harford’s list of suspects expands to include not only those close to the victim and members of the Royal family but also a shadowy group of people keen on stealing the Crown and taking over the throne. Will he manage to uncover the murderer or will the murderer get to him first?
.
When I first started this book, I could not help but be reminded of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Wimsey. However, the further in I got, I started to feel that perhaps Guy Harford is a more diluted version of the aristocratic investigator, being somewhat powerless and with more enemies than friends in high places. But what he lacks in charisma and power, he makes up with his earnest and dogged determination to get to the truth. That aside, I actually enjoyed reading this book and found it to be an easy and entertaining read. It did get me wondering and frequently guessing who the murderer was and because of that I found myself constantly reaching for the book whenever I had some free time.
.
So if you’re looking for a fast and not too heavy read, grab this one. You’ll also get a glimpse into the lives of high society in Britain, some of whom seemed to be little affected by the war then.
August 24, 2020
Stealing the Crown
.
The world is at war and dead bodies are not only found on the battlefield.
After an allegedly disastrous situation in Tangiers, Guy Harford had no choice but to take up a position as a courtier in Buckingham Palace. From running errands for the Royal Family, Harford has to take on a different role when a fellow courtier is found dead in Buckingham Palace. Refusing to believe that it was suicide, Harford decides to investigate with the help of two unlikely people, his “postman” housemate and a professional cat burglar. As things start to unravel, Harford’s list of suspects expands to include not only those close to the victim and members of the Royal family but also a shadowy group of people keen on stealing the Crown and taking over the throne. Will he manage to uncover the murderer or will the murderer get to him first?
.
When I first started this book, I could not help but be reminded of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Wimsey. However, the further in I got, I started to feel that perhaps Guy Harford is a more diluted version of the aristocratic investigator, being somewhat powerless and with more enemies than friends in high places. But what he lacks in charisma and power, he makes up with his earnest and dogged determination to get to the truth. That aside, I actually enjoyed reading this book and found it to be an easy and entertaining read. It did get me wondering and frequently guessing who the murderer was and because of that I found myself constantly reaching for the book whenever I had some free time.
.
So if you’re looking for a fast and not too heavy read, grab this one. You’ll also get a glimpse into the lives of high society in Britain, some of whom seemed to be little affected by the war then.
.
The world is at war and dead bodies are not only found on the battlefield.
After an allegedly disastrous situation in Tangiers, Guy Harford had no choice but to take up a position as a courtier in Buckingham Palace. From running errands for the Royal Family, Harford has to take on a different role when a fellow courtier is found dead in Buckingham Palace. Refusing to believe that it was suicide, Harford decides to investigate with the help of two unlikely people, his “postman” housemate and a professional cat burglar. As things start to unravel, Harford’s list of suspects expands to include not only those close to the victim and members of the Royal family but also a shadowy group of people keen on stealing the Crown and taking over the throne. Will he manage to uncover the murderer or will the murderer get to him first?
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When I first started this book, I could not help but be reminded of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Wimsey. However, the further in I got, I started to feel that perhaps Guy Harford is a more diluted version of the aristocratic investigator, being somewhat powerless and with more enemies than friends in high places. But what he lacks in charisma and power, he makes up with his earnest and dogged determination to get to the truth. That aside, I actually enjoyed reading this book and found it to be an easy and entertaining read. It did get me wondering and frequently guessing who the murderer was and because of that I found myself constantly reaching for the book whenever I had some free time.
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So if you’re looking for a fast and not too heavy read, grab this one. You’ll also get a glimpse into the lives of high society in Britain, some of whom seemed to be little affected by the war then.
September 6, 2020
This was so much fun! I had so much fun with this. Espionage and mystery shenanigans in Buckingham Palace during WWII, well, that's simply delightful imho. Our main character is endearingly (your mileage may vary) confused about everything and I felt that the wary, transactional relationships he initially had with Rodie and Rupe developed neatly into proper friendships, but surely the star of the show here is the setting. Stealing the Crown brings to life the minutiae and madness of being a low-level courtier in Buckingham Palace with light, bright narration and a string of dry witticisms. I don't want to overreach my authority on this because it is basically none, but the narration felt really solidly historical to me even as it was slangy and casual and witty, and that's a tough thing to pull off!
The story itself feels very episodic even as it all purported to be an investigation of the same suspected murder, with Guy sort of running around and meeting new people for information and then going off armed with this to seek out even newer folks. He's in way over his head and forces around him are constantly disposing of clues and then pointing him in new directions, and the combination means that it would probably be an exercise in futility to try and solve the mystery as you read. I did not mind this because I was in it for the setting and atmosphere; I probably would not recommend a mystery fan to read this for the mystery. This is not a knock on the book! It merely has different priorities and happily these lined up with my own soft delight areas for an enjoyable experience. Many thanks to NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story itself feels very episodic even as it all purported to be an investigation of the same suspected murder, with Guy sort of running around and meeting new people for information and then going off armed with this to seek out even newer folks. He's in way over his head and forces around him are constantly disposing of clues and then pointing him in new directions, and the combination means that it would probably be an exercise in futility to try and solve the mystery as you read. I did not mind this because I was in it for the setting and atmosphere; I probably would not recommend a mystery fan to read this for the mystery. This is not a knock on the book! It merely has different priorities and happily these lined up with my own soft delight areas for an enjoyable experience. Many thanks to NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
Set in London, 1941, our investigator is Guy Harford, formerly an artist, who returned home from a scandal in Tangiers, and now working at Buckingham Palace as a courtier. With the former king having abdicated, and being shuttled off where his Nazi sympathies could do little harm, King George VI sits on the throne. Some are unhappy about the change, and the fact he has two daughters, but no son to take over.
When the man that Guy shares an office with, Major Edgar Brampton, is found dead, he is charged with looking into it. Should it be suicide, then the body needs to be moved from the palace sharpish. If it isn't suicide, then whatever the reason, it has to be quickly swept under a rug. Guy is amiable enough, but basically out of his depth and, at times seems fairly dense. With the help of his flatmate, Rupert Hardacre, a rather unconvincing postman, and Rodie, a thief who takes a liking to Guy, he sets out to discover what happened.
There is little about careless talk costing lives here, as Guy seems happy enough to share his thoughts with virtually everyone he comes into contact with. We have possible spies, conspiracies to take over as monarch, especially should the Germans invade, and too many possible characters and suspects to keep track of. It is obvious that Guy has been chosen as those in charge are convinced he will be unable to discover the truth and, without the help of Rupert and Rodie, it is unlikely that he would have solved the crime. However, I liked the wartime setting and hopefully things will improve in the series. Guy needs to be more decisive, intelligent and less bumbling, if he is going to be convincing as an investigator.
When the man that Guy shares an office with, Major Edgar Brampton, is found dead, he is charged with looking into it. Should it be suicide, then the body needs to be moved from the palace sharpish. If it isn't suicide, then whatever the reason, it has to be quickly swept under a rug. Guy is amiable enough, but basically out of his depth and, at times seems fairly dense. With the help of his flatmate, Rupert Hardacre, a rather unconvincing postman, and Rodie, a thief who takes a liking to Guy, he sets out to discover what happened.
There is little about careless talk costing lives here, as Guy seems happy enough to share his thoughts with virtually everyone he comes into contact with. We have possible spies, conspiracies to take over as monarch, especially should the Germans invade, and too many possible characters and suspects to keep track of. It is obvious that Guy has been chosen as those in charge are convinced he will be unable to discover the truth and, without the help of Rupert and Rodie, it is unlikely that he would have solved the crime. However, I liked the wartime setting and hopefully things will improve in the series. Guy needs to be more decisive, intelligent and less bumbling, if he is going to be convincing as an investigator.
January 26, 2021
When a Palace courtier is found shot in his office things must be taken care of, a death at the Palace is just not acceptable. At first the story is that Major Brampton took his own life but suspicions begin to eat at his fellow courtier, Guy Harford. With a list of suspects a mile long Guy is determined to uncover the truth as to what happened to Brampton but realizes that his own life may be in danger. In order to get the job done he joins forces with his roommate, Rupert, as well as known burglar, Rodie Carr. The trio must make quick work of their investigation to discover Brampton's real fate and ultimately protect the King. Set during WWII, "Stealing the Crown" is a great historical fiction crime read. Keeping track of the cast of characters might be a challenge as there are a number of real life and fictional names dropped throughout this book. I loved Rodie and could see a spin-off based on her character alone. Anya Taylor-Joy would need to play her in the movie. Author TP Fielden is the penname of Palace biographer Christopher Wilson who has a number of royal stories under his belt. If you are looking for a good who-done-it read without the typical graphic details that usually go hand in hand with this genre then be sure to add "Stealing the Crown" to your TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2021
A fun and funny WWII-adjacent spy-ish novel that examines life in Buckingham palace in wartime, and all the intricacies and absurdities that go along with it.
At its heart this is a murder mystery, with a spy plot on the side that ties into the narrative. After causing an international incident in Tangiers, protagonist Guy is assigned an office and a set of duties at the palace that include picking up an exiled king’s laundry, caring for a royal parrot named Charlotte, and investigating a suspicious death.
Alongside Guy are Rodie, a consummate criminal, and Rupe, the most well-connected “post office worker” of all time. The three team up, buddy-comedy style, to solve the mystery with which Guy has been tasked and perhaps a few others along the way.
Though the solve isn’t really anything exceptional, it fits the story and isn’t really what matters in this one. This is a fun and capery book that’s more about the ride than the solve, and Fielden does a lovely job of giving us a realistic portrait of the Palace in wartime while still keeping the tone light and fun.
Eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
At its heart this is a murder mystery, with a spy plot on the side that ties into the narrative. After causing an international incident in Tangiers, protagonist Guy is assigned an office and a set of duties at the palace that include picking up an exiled king’s laundry, caring for a royal parrot named Charlotte, and investigating a suspicious death.
Alongside Guy are Rodie, a consummate criminal, and Rupe, the most well-connected “post office worker” of all time. The three team up, buddy-comedy style, to solve the mystery with which Guy has been tasked and perhaps a few others along the way.
Though the solve isn’t really anything exceptional, it fits the story and isn’t really what matters in this one. This is a fun and capery book that’s more about the ride than the solve, and Fielden does a lovely job of giving us a realistic portrait of the Palace in wartime while still keeping the tone light and fun.
Eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 18, 2022
I wanted to like this book. The characters were interesting but ... I think there just wasn't enough character development for me. It was all over the place, with the reluctant main character trying too hard to not be in the position he was in and the author trying too hard to marry Agatha Christie with James Bond.
The main character, for me, was not the most interesting person in the book and I would have liked to seen more OF the most interesting character in the book. I've been finding this a lot recently ... that many books have these characters that are MORE interesting than the main character but we never circle back to them. Are they writing in hopes of getting a TV series? Because it kind of reads like that ... with the special guest star. Sadly, it didn't hold my interest enough to even see if there was a second mystery. I literally didn't care who killed anyone and I literally didn't care if the murder was solved.
I'd classify this book as a solid airplane read because if you get to your destination before you finish reading it, you won't feel bad about not getting to the end of the book.
The main character, for me, was not the most interesting person in the book and I would have liked to seen more OF the most interesting character in the book. I've been finding this a lot recently ... that many books have these characters that are MORE interesting than the main character but we never circle back to them. Are they writing in hopes of getting a TV series? Because it kind of reads like that ... with the special guest star. Sadly, it didn't hold my interest enough to even see if there was a second mystery. I literally didn't care who killed anyone and I literally didn't care if the murder was solved.
I'd classify this book as a solid airplane read because if you get to your destination before you finish reading it, you won't feel bad about not getting to the end of the book.
April 25, 2021
This is a hugely enjoyable book which is well worth nestling into on a summer's afternoon.
Its World War Two setting might be familiar but the set up is far from usual with proceedings opening with a murder at Buckingham Palace. What follows is a subtle and well drawn evocation of the more well heeled parts of the capital during the War with a cast of believable characters telling a story with plenty of regal references.
The whodunnit is just one part of the mystery in this book with the central character, Guy Harford, arriving complete with his own untold story. Aided by burglar, Rodie Carr, and flatmate, Rupert Hardacre, Guy sets about discovering who was responsible for the dead body found at the seat of royal power in a tale that has enough twists to keep mystery fans guessing.
The characters are likeable and, ultimately, believable although Rodie takes time to shed her two dimensional shell. The story moves well and the ending packs a punch but leaves the door open for more. A rather elegant companion for a long summer's afternoon in the garden.
Its World War Two setting might be familiar but the set up is far from usual with proceedings opening with a murder at Buckingham Palace. What follows is a subtle and well drawn evocation of the more well heeled parts of the capital during the War with a cast of believable characters telling a story with plenty of regal references.
The whodunnit is just one part of the mystery in this book with the central character, Guy Harford, arriving complete with his own untold story. Aided by burglar, Rodie Carr, and flatmate, Rupert Hardacre, Guy sets about discovering who was responsible for the dead body found at the seat of royal power in a tale that has enough twists to keep mystery fans guessing.
The characters are likeable and, ultimately, believable although Rodie takes time to shed her two dimensional shell. The story moves well and the ending packs a punch but leaves the door open for more. A rather elegant companion for a long summer's afternoon in the garden.
July 30, 2020
I do love a good mystery - and this one fits the bill perfectly!
Guy Harford finds himself - unexpectedly - in the roll of general dogsbody at Buckingham Palace whilst the city of London is regularly bombed by the Germans during WWII. With the sudden death of Major Edgar Brompton, with whom Guy shared an office, he finds himself tasked with finding out what really happened. Was it, as is widely reported - suicide, or is the more to this predicament? It's Guy's job to find out, but do the powers-that-be really want him to get to the bottom of things or will that endanger his own life?
Oh, this is a terrific read. With a little insight into the establishment at the time, this is one to get your little grey cells working. Well written with loads of information and a few twists and turns along the way, this quickly grabbed my attention. I loved the wide variety of characters - some more straightforward than others - and admired Guy Harford's persistence in getting to the bottom of things. Definitely a series to follow for all readers of a really well plotted domestic mystery, and putting the author firmly on my watch list. I'm very happy to give this novel 4.5* and a high recommendation.
Guy Harford finds himself - unexpectedly - in the roll of general dogsbody at Buckingham Palace whilst the city of London is regularly bombed by the Germans during WWII. With the sudden death of Major Edgar Brompton, with whom Guy shared an office, he finds himself tasked with finding out what really happened. Was it, as is widely reported - suicide, or is the more to this predicament? It's Guy's job to find out, but do the powers-that-be really want him to get to the bottom of things or will that endanger his own life?
Oh, this is a terrific read. With a little insight into the establishment at the time, this is one to get your little grey cells working. Well written with loads of information and a few twists and turns along the way, this quickly grabbed my attention. I loved the wide variety of characters - some more straightforward than others - and admired Guy Harford's persistence in getting to the bottom of things. Definitely a series to follow for all readers of a really well plotted domestic mystery, and putting the author firmly on my watch list. I'm very happy to give this novel 4.5* and a high recommendation.
August 19, 2021
This is the first book in a new series featuring Guy Harford. Guy was living a quiet life in Tangiers when he was forced to return to London in the days before World War II. He is an artist, but somehow he ends up working in Buckingham Palace. Guy is a very interesting character. He fumbles through trying to figure out if his office mate has been killed and then who killed his office mate.
In addition to Guy, the characters of Rodie Carr and Rupert Hardacre are brilliant. Rodie is a burglar and helps Guy to no end. Rupert works in the Palace too but somehow it seems he might be a spy.
The details about Buckingham Palace and its inner workings are well described. The author has written royal biographies. His knowledge of the royal family and places shows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy. I gave this three and a half stars. I think it is a solid start to a new series.
In addition to Guy, the characters of Rodie Carr and Rupert Hardacre are brilliant. Rodie is a burglar and helps Guy to no end. Rupert works in the Palace too but somehow it seems he might be a spy.
The details about Buckingham Palace and its inner workings are well described. The author has written royal biographies. His knowledge of the royal family and places shows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy. I gave this three and a half stars. I think it is a solid start to a new series.
August 25, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, though the jump to various minor characters' POV got confusing sometimes, particularly the women in Guy's life.
Guy Harford is a great character in the vein of reluctant heroes. All he wants to do is be left alone in his studio in Tangier to paint, but the events of World War II drag him into the conflict. When the book opens, something bad has gone down in Tangier, and Guy's blamed for it. The Foreign Office pull him back to London and install him in a minor role at Buckingham Palace.
From there, a clever plot arises beginning with the curious death of Guy's office mate. And what's his flatmate's role in all this intrigue-- he just works for the post office, doesn't he? American wealth makes a splash and the woman who would be Guy's love interest deserves a whole book of her own. Looking forward to more in this series!
Guy Harford is a great character in the vein of reluctant heroes. All he wants to do is be left alone in his studio in Tangier to paint, but the events of World War II drag him into the conflict. When the book opens, something bad has gone down in Tangier, and Guy's blamed for it. The Foreign Office pull him back to London and install him in a minor role at Buckingham Palace.
From there, a clever plot arises beginning with the curious death of Guy's office mate. And what's his flatmate's role in all this intrigue-- he just works for the post office, doesn't he? American wealth makes a splash and the woman who would be Guy's love interest deserves a whole book of her own. Looking forward to more in this series!
September 9, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
This is the start of a new mystery series following a chap called Guy Harford, who is a courtier at Buckingham Palace. The mystery revolves around the body of a fellow courtier found shot in his offices at the aforementioned Buckingham Palace. Was he murdered, was it suicide, how do we stop this controversy from getting into the public knowledge? These are all things Guy undertakes to find out. I found him a bit of an odd mixture of something like Lord Peter Whimsey and Bertie Wooster, as no-one actually expects his polite but ineffectual bumbling investigations to be successful. I often had to suspend my belief during this book, but I did enjoy it and will probably pick up the next in the series when it’s released.
This is the start of a new mystery series following a chap called Guy Harford, who is a courtier at Buckingham Palace. The mystery revolves around the body of a fellow courtier found shot in his offices at the aforementioned Buckingham Palace. Was he murdered, was it suicide, how do we stop this controversy from getting into the public knowledge? These are all things Guy undertakes to find out. I found him a bit of an odd mixture of something like Lord Peter Whimsey and Bertie Wooster, as no-one actually expects his polite but ineffectual bumbling investigations to be successful. I often had to suspend my belief during this book, but I did enjoy it and will probably pick up the next in the series when it’s released.
March 24, 2024
I think I bought this book by accident thinking it was another series, but it was actually pretty great! It's mid World War II, and Guy Harford is an artist who accidentally ended up working as a junior flunky in the British secret service out of Buckingham Palace. When one of his co-workers dies mysteriously, it's Guy's job to cover it up and that leads him to poking his nose into a a whole political hotbed of gossip, scandal and potential treason...
This is such an interesting time and the author clearly knows his Royal history. I liked all the various characters in Guy's life, a mix of Bohemian ratbags and socialites, including the charming catburglar who keeps flirting with him and his mysterious flatmate who definitely DOESN'T work for the post office.
I'll be reading more of these!
This is such an interesting time and the author clearly knows his Royal history. I liked all the various characters in Guy's life, a mix of Bohemian ratbags and socialites, including the charming catburglar who keeps flirting with him and his mysterious flatmate who definitely DOESN'T work for the post office.
I'll be reading more of these!
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